Page 3 of Knot My Secret Santa

When we got to my desk, I let out an excited squeak to see a package dressed in a pretty white cloth bow. Whoever was my Secret Santa knew how to wrap a gift. Even my skills weren’t that grand. I set down my bag and took off my coat, careful not to let it drip on anything.

Noelle poked me. “Hurry it up! I want to see what you got.”

I laughed. She was the one who ripped presents open like a five-year-old on Christmas morning. Her twin sons, my cousins, who were now fifteen, were the same way. I always liked to savor the opening of a gift. I picked it up, feeling the weight of it in my hand, and tried to not make any guesses based on that. Carefully undoing the bow, I set it down and chuckled as my aunt nudged me again.

“Okay, okay. Opening it now.”

Pulling back the paper, my brows jumped up as I saw what was inside. Two books by one of my most admired architects, Edward Mazria. “Wow. This is so thoughtful.” I glanced around to see if anyone was watching us, maybe giving away they were my Secret Santa, but no one was paying any attention. “I wonder who knows that Mazria is such an influence on me.”

“Mazria… He’s the eco architecture guy, right?” Noelle plucked up the top book and flipped through it.

“Sustainable architecture. That’s the name used these days. It was what my whole final thesis was on at university. It’s with that philosophy which I built my tiny house.” I openedPractice With Purposeand turned the pages, gasping when I got to the title page. Tiny elves danced in my belly and my heart soared. “It’s signed. Mazria signed the book to me!”

“What?” Noelle uttered a surprised croak and turned to the title page inLe Guide de la Maison Solaire. “This one is signed to you too.”

“But how?” First off, who in the office knew Edward Mazria? His company was in New Mexico, and we were in Washington state. Maybe one of the senior architects, but to call in a favor like this? Also, Noelle just had people pick names from the hat on Friday. Someone would only have the weekend to get something signed specifically to me.

Noelle handed me back the book and leaned in with a grin. “Santa has his ways, dear. You know there’s magic involved.” She gave me a wink and headed to the break room. “I need my tea. See you in a little while for the morning scrum.”

I’d expected some chocolates, maybe some pencils or gloves, but this gift… It was only the first day. While it was no secret I liked sustainable architecture, no one would know that I was particularly influenced by Mazria.

As I thought over who might be my Secret Santa, Jessalyn hurried to my desk. Ah, that’s right. She knew what I focused on at university. Since she wasn’t my Secret Santa, she must be giving ideas to whoever was. Though it made it equally as surprising that she would remember what my focus of study was when hers was much more classical design.

“Where’s your aunt?” Jessalyn looked frantically about.

I suppressed my giggle. “She went to get her tea. You can put her gift on her desk now.”

Jessalyn practically sprinted across the office, and once the gift was placed, she walked back as she fussed with her hair. “The snow slowed everyone down this morning. It took forever to get here. And me, needing to look my best when I make my presentation this afternoon.”

“You look gorgeous as usual.” I took note of her designer heels, shorter than usual skirt, and scooped neck cashmere sweater. Very scooped. Crap. I’d totally forgotten what she said she was going to seduce our boss. And what better day to do it than when she’s giving her first big presentation to him and the senior architects. My presentation wasn’t until Wednesday, but I was already prepared.

“Good. I need to go over my presentation with Gina this morning, so… Oh!” Jessalyn clapped her hands and picked up a small gift her Secret Santa had left on the desk. She ripped it open and pouted. “Oh. Cute, I guess. Not really my style.”

I peeked over to see the adorable snowflake earrings. “They’re super cute. Very festive.”

“You can have them.” She held them out to me.

My stomach tightened as I gave her a little shake of my head. “Jess, they’re yours. Don’t be ungrateful. Your Secret Santa could be watching right now.”

She shrugged. “If they are, let them know I like diamonds. Preferably square cut, but nothing particular to any season. What did you get?” She leaned over and sighed. “Books, boring. No thanks. I’m going to get a coffee and then I’ll be with Gina for the rest of the morning in case anyone comes looking for me. See ya.”

I clenched my jaw and restrained myself from saying anything else. These books were far from boring, and I hugged them to my chest. The gift itself was not only extremely thoughtful, but my Secret Santa put great effort in getting these to me today. Maybe it was Gina. Jessalyn worked a lot with her, and my aunt had known her for years.

These books would get a place of honor in my little home. I wanted to give my Secret Santa a hug already. The gift made me feel seen and appreciated.

I worked happily through the morning, and it was only after lunch when I walked with Noelle to the meeting room that I remembered Jessalyn’s plan. My sandwich roiled around unpleasantly in my stomach. I could only hope she’d focus on her presentation and not… She was wearing that sweater and skirt. A skirt which seemed like she hitched up a little higher.

I gnawed my lower lip as Noelle and I took our seats. My chair was near the head of the table next to Jessalyn. While Nathaniel usually sat at the front, since she and I were in the room, he was seated at the end of the table, farthest from us. He’d worn black today, and it made him seem all the more intimidating. And sexy. Dark, dangerous, and delectable.

Why was my mind going there? He was our boss.

I turned my attention to Jessalyn as she hooked up her laptop to the projector. She smiled when she was done with her gaze on Nathaniel and him alone.

“You may begin,” his voice was rich and deep, with a hint of crispness.

Jessalyn and I had been each given a project to design a bedroom for an Omega. It wasn’t a design for an actual client, but as interns, we not only shadowed our office mentors and helped on their team projects, we had these side tasks to help our skills evolve. I thought it a little biased to give us an assignment for an Omega given that’s what we were, but I had fun with it.

The presentation went smoothly. Jessalyn was a natural in front of an audience. She explained her wide and sweeping design with an extended balcony overlooking the sea. It was a classical minimalist blueprint with plenty of space and no inside features to draw the focus on the view outside. It was a clean design, much like a luxurious hotel room, but not really for me. I liked my small cozy home.

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